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SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL 



*Ci0 f^eaben must come, not ine must go.' 



Lord Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me, 
And all things else recede ! 
My heart be daily nearer Thee, 
From sin be daily freed. 

Each day let Thy supporting might 
My weakness still embrace, 
My darkness vanish in Thy light, 
Thy life my death eiface. 

In Thy bright beams which on me fall 

Fade every evil thought ; 

That I am nothing, Thou art all, 

I would be daily taught. 

Make this poor self grow less and less. 
Be Thou my light and aim; 
Oh, make me daily, through Thy grace, 
More meet to bear Thy name." 



*' Somewhere or other you will find what is needful 
for you in a book, or a friend, or, best of all, in your own 
thoughts — the eternal thought speaking in your own 
thought." 



SONGS 



LIFE ETERNAL; 



OTHER WRITINGS. 



BY 



3 3 EDWARD RANDALL KNOWLES. 



•i-^i^''^^^^-'- 









.^M 



BOSTON. 
1891. 






MlH^' 



Copyright, 1891, 
Bv EDWARD R. KNOWLES. 



iKontents; 



To MY Wife 








Page 
5 


Life Eternal .... 








7 


The Day is at Hand . 








8 


Our Lady of Perpetual Help . 








9 


The Conversion of St. Augustine 








10 


Rest and Peace! .... 








11 


The Love and Joy of Heaven . 








12 


Jesus Only 








14 


Thomas F. Hendricken 








15 


St. Edward the Confessor 








16 


To Archbishop Williams . 








17 


Personal Reflections 








18 


Shelley 








19 


Alone 








20 


Restoration 








22 


The True Christian Science 








28 


Practical Christianity- 








34 


Ecce Veritas! 






. 36 


(3) 











JBetiication* 



TO MY WIFE. 



To thee, so noble, fair, and true, 

So patient, loving, kind. 
In humble verse I offer now 

The homage of my mind. 

Faithful through trials thou hast proved, 
Companion, wife, and friend; 

Henceforth for all eternity 
Our love shall never end. 

Thou hast a dignity beside 
The honored name of wife: 

Maternity's bright gems enhance 
The beauty of thy life. 

Mother so gentle, wife so true! 

Expression adequate 
I cannot find to tell thy worth, 

Thy merits to relate. 
(5) 



Songs of the Life Eternal 



LIFE ETERNAL. 



Two worlds there are : the one is real, 
The other but seemmg; both are here. 

The seeming doth to us reveal 

Its attractions o'reat and our friends most 
dear. 

But greater far in the Spirit's light 

Are the pleasures of matter's sense bereft, 

When the world of the seeming fades from 
sight, 
And the real existence alone is left. 

And dearer yet our friends will be 

When illusions of earth from our lives have 
passed, 

And the spirit from matter's bond is free. 
And the life eternal begun at last. 

(7) 



SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 



THE DAY IS AT HAND. 



Through the long vigil of the night, 
To greet the dawning of the light, 
I wait in peace, 'mid silence deep. 
By expectation held from sleep. 
Sustine me, Domine ! 

Though dark and endless seems the gloom, 
Like to the quiet of the tomb, 
I wait contented without fear ; 
The glory of the dawn is near. 
Judica me, Domine! 

The day is coming ; Glorious Sun 
Of Righteousness I Thy will be done ! 
Throughout the vast eternity 
Thy radiance shines triumphantly. 

Grloria tihL Domine ! 



SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 



OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. 



Unto the holy temple faltering came 

A pilgrim, footsore, ragged, and forlorn ; 
Weak and exhausted ; weary, sick, and lame ; 
By passions, doubts, and piercing sorrows 
torn. 
To the blest Virgin Mother's favored shrine 

he brought 
A heart with grief and tearful supplication 
fraught. 

Whence comes this tranquil, holy, peaceful 
calm 
That doth upon his troubled spirit pour? 

He seems to hear the sweet, consoling psalm, 
"The Lord, Thy Shepherd, doth thy soul 
restore." 

As thus the Mother kind his prayer antici- 
pates, 

His heart with tender love and gratitude di- 
lates. 



10 SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 

THE CONVERSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 



O Blessed One ! Thy life, 

Incarnate once for me, 
Now animates my soul. 

Enabling me to see 
Satan's devices deep, 

And each alluring snare. 
Call Thou my soul from sleep, 

Who dost all ill repair. 

Around me float the clouds 

Of error, doubt, despair ; 
Extend Thy mercy. Lord I 

Destroy me not, — forbear I 
But suffer me to live. 

Thy servant. Lord, to be. 
Father! Thy Spirit give 

To raise and quicken me. 

Blest Mother of my Lord ! 

Entreat of Thy dear Son 
That by this humble hand 

His bidding may be done. 
O Saviour ! Let not pride 

Control nor hinder me. 
Forever at my side 

Deign Thou, my God, to be I 



SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 11 



REST AND PEACE 



A THANKSGIVING AFTER A MISSION. 



Jesu ! Creator ! God Omnipotent ! 

To Thee in grateful praise each knee is bent 

Powerless are banished evils to molest. 

Oh dwell forever with us, our Eternal Rest I 



Sweet Jesus ! Resting calm in Thy embrace. 
We know that Thou dost every sin efface ; 
And in Thy loving arms all sorrows cease. 
Thou art our Rest, our Joy, our Life, om- 
Peace ! 



12 SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 



THE LOVE AND JOY OF HEAVEN. 



I LOVE Thy labor, Blessed Lord ! 

Thy love is life to me ; 
And in the fulness of Thy grace 

A heaven of rest I see. 



The rest Thou givest to Thine own 

Is not that carnal ease 
Indulged by those who idly seek 

Their own poor selves to please. 



It is a rest of perfect joy. 

The joy of labor given 
The poor and sick for love of Thee, 

Which brings foretaste of heaven. 



This little glimpse Thou givest now 
Of Thy blest heaven above. 

Incites me here to strive to gain 
That heaven of perfect love. 



SONGS OF THE LIFE ETP^RNAL. 13 

And what does perfect love bestow 

But perfect peace and rest; 
And countless joys bestowed by Thee, 

Who knowest what is best? 



Jesus ! Sweet vSaviour ! Grant to me 
This perfect joy to know ! 

In Thee alone that joy I find ; 
Dear Lord, I love Thee so ! 



14 SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 



JESUS ONLY. 



Jesus Only ! This the burden 

Of the everlasting song 
Ever raised by angels holy ; 

And the bright, celestial throng 
Bowing low in adoration 

Down before the Saviour's throne, 
Unto Him, the Sun of Heaven, 

Loud, ecstatic hymns intone. 



Grace Ineffable and Wisdom ! 

Joy and Life and Strength and Peace! 
Love and Goodness ! Power Substantial ! 

Thou whose glories never cease ! 
Lost in loving adoration 

Thus we join the angel choir, 
Praising Him, that Life Eternal 

Unto Whom our souls aspire. 



SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 15 



THOMAS F. HENDRICKEN.* 



O SAINTED father ! bishop, guide, and friend ! 
What memories sad and sweet those titles 

blend ! 
Thy loving children in long retrospect 
Upon thy living, ardent faith reflect. 



Thy zeal for God's great glory proudly 

shows 
Where yon cathedral's massive walls repose. 
No longer doth thy presence grace that 

throne ; 
The Eternal Bishop claims thee for his own. 



Saint 3^et uncanonized ! With longing ear 
The faithful's invocation now I hear. 
When future ages shall thy life relate, 
" Ora pro riobis, saint and advocate ! " 

*The first bishop of Providence. 



16 SONGS OF THE LIFE ETERNAL. 



ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR. 



Thy hallowed name, confessor-king, 
A treasure precious, lovingly I bear. 

Thy patronage, an heritage 

Of noble worth and memory, T share. 

Aliens to thee in rule and creed 

Profane the temple by thy bounty reared; 
The mammon-god is now adored 

Where once the lowly Jesus was revered. 

But let me not an alien be 

To that grand temple of the living faith. 
By willing hands throughout all lands 

Sustained. Far sooner may my every 
breath 

Be one of sorrow, suffering, toil, and care. 

Pray thou for me, my patron, friend, and 
guide, 
That I may hold in Jesus' fold 

That living faith which is my only pride. 



Miscellaneous Poems, 



TO ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS, 

MARCH 11, 1891. 



C'LEAif as the sky of early morn 

On this thy festal clay, 
With starry gems o'er its vast expanse 

Shining in bright array. 

Thus be thy memory's record fair ; 

Be all life's clouds dispelled ; 
And only the gems of thy life's reward 

Upon its tablet held. 

May this bright, peaceful consciousness 

Greatly thy life prolong. 
Of a life nobly spent the memory is 

Eternal, clear, and strong. 

(IT) 



18 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



PERSONAL REFLECTIONS. 



ON PKESENTING A MIRROR TO A LADY. 



This mirror, framed 'mid ancient carvings rare, 
Which hath for centuries the charms portrayed 
Of distant Persia's noblest ladies fair 
In splendors oriental bright arrayed; 
Destined to yet reflect a charming face. 
Of calm repose and with expression sweet, 
Reigning above a form of matchless grace ; 
O Lady fair, with worthy charms replete ! 
This souvenir I give to thee. 
Thus to fulfil its destin}-. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 19 



SHELLEY. 



A>' ACKOSTIC. 



Peer of noblest poets bright, 
Eternal Truth's undaunted knight, 
Rich in energy of love, 
Clear in imagery of mind. 
Yielding to none in genius grand. 

Battling 'midst a world unkind, 

Shelley did his life devote 

Human welfare to promote. 

Eternal Spirit, Power of Good ! 

Let inspiration high our natures flood. 

Loosing our minds from superstition's bond, 

Enabling earth's bewildering gloom profound 

Yet to bring forth a paradise of good. 



20 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



ALONE. 



FEBRUARY, ISStV 



Alone in my dreary garret, 
High up from the noisy street, 

I think of two little cherubs, 

And dream that I hear their feet. 



Up they come, joyously running, 
Perching one on each knee ; 

And two little chubby faces 
Shower kisses sweet upon me. 



'Tis sweet to conjure in fancy 
These two little faces so dear. 

But then comes a pang of sorrow, 
Alas ! they're not really here. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 21 

God's curse be on them that would part us ! 

My children, so happy and bright ! 
He yet will restore you to me ; 

He guide th all things aright. 



Away, thou maddening fancy ! 

I yet must endure and wait. 
Alone the vision has left me ; 

Alone in the gloom with my hate. 



22 MISCELLANEOIJS POEMS. 



RESTORATION. 



FEBRUARY, 1891. 



God's justice overrules the hate of men, 
His bounty patient suffering will crown, 

Alike His favors and His chastenings bless, 
The humble He exalts, the proud casts 
down. 



No longer 'mid the garret's squalid gloom 
I vainly hope, till hope to deep despair 

Is turned, whilst all the future promise th 
Is sorrow, struggle, and incessant care. 



Once more my home is happily restored, 
Again my darling children round me play. 

Effulgent, joyous rays of heavenly light 
Brighten the dawning of a better day. 



The True Christian Science, 



THE WATCHMAN, OCT. 16, 



Never, probably, in the history of the Chris- 
tian era has there been a period when, from all 
directions and sources, the false claim, — once 
warningly predicted by the divine Saviour, — 
" Lo, here is Christ ; or, lo, He is there," has 
been set forth so generally and widely as at the 
present time. And to every thoughtful person 
immediately recurs the admonitory sequence of 
the Lord's prediction : '' But take ye heed ; be- 
hold I have foretold you all things." '' Believe 
it not." But after this command of Jesus we 
read : " But in those days, after that tribulation 
, . . then shall they see the Son of Man com- 
ing in the clouds with great power and glory." 
Now we behold on every side all possible forms 
of philosophies, systems, and even pretended 
revelations of Divine wisdom, each gaining over 

(23) 



24 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

to its support its more or less deluded and in- 
fatuated crowd of exponents and devotees, and 
each claiming to be solely and exclusively the 
final philosoph}^ the ultimate possible develop- 
ment of revealed religion, the summa lux mundi. 
Yet they are all imbued with principles of utter 
fatuity, inconsistenc}^ and lawlessness, which 
logically and practically lead to the most fear- 
ful consequences in faith, disposition, and prac- 
tical experience. Without delaying to consider 
the expositions of the various claims, theories, 
and doctrines advanced by these " Christian 
Scientists," " Faithists," false prophets, and 
bogus Messiahs of the present day, it is the 
purpose of this brief article to contrast with the 
pseudo-Christian Science fanaticism of our time, 
and its pernicious applications and results, the 
true Christian Science, that union with our 
Saviour Jesus Christ in our hearts, which is tlie 
source of all faith, knowledge, wisdom, spiritual 
life, and peace for the soul. 

The " Christian Science " doctrine is that 
God is everything, all, the only absolute entity. 
God is good, not evil ; therefore all is good, and 
there is no evil. Evil is onl}^ a delusion of a 
perverted mortal mind. Turning from this de- 
lusion, (though the absurdity is very apparent 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 25 

of a part of God entertaining such a delusion 
for it to turn away from) we ignore error, sin, 
sickness, and death, which are unreal, and do 
not truly occur at all. We tlius consider our- 
selves, argues the "' Christian Scientist," one, in 
being, with God, " in whom we live, and move, 
and are." Furthermore, he claims, God is 
wholly spirit, and hence there is no matter ; 
what we call matter is but the phenomena of 
this eternal and omnipresent spirit presented for 
our contemplation in accordance with fixed and 
permanent laws. Spirit is the only reality ; God 
is perfect, therefore all is perfect ; and, conse- 
quently, we are, as to our real selves, perfect, 
good, free, wise, well, and immortal. The fal- 
lacy, '' God is all," is affirmed in a sense that so 
identifies God with the universe as to ignore 
the fact that an Infinite Being may have person- 
ality and must have an infinite power of self- 
adjustment in an}' degree, and thus must be 
capable of assuming the closest personal rela- 
tions with finite persons. The most pernicious 
result of this " Christian Science " fallacy is 
that it annihilates human individuality, free-will, 
and accountabiUty, and leads the sinner to the 
fatuous belief that of his own will and strength 
he can ignore and evade all the consequences of 



26 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

sin and ignorance. All human experience, to 
say nothing of Revelation, disproves this idea 
that a man can, by " coming into a true under- 
standing of being," and by ignoring and deny- 
ing the reality of sin and its various results, be- 
come instantly free from all consequences of his 
past errors or misdeeds. With its unsound but 
seductive exegesis, " Christian Science " de- 
clares, in proof of this Satanic delusion, the 
text, '' For as he tliiuketh in his heart, so is he," 
and argues that disease and all other evils are 
merely a matter of belief and of opinion, and 
that there is no sin if a man only thinks there 
is not. 

Though '' Christian Science " is but a re- 
vival, in its theological and philosophical as- 
pects, of old errors, yet its popularity rests 
mainly upon the application of its pantheistic 
ideas in a new and attractive way, viz., the re- 
moval of disease. But the inconsistency of 
trying to cure a serious case of disease by 
" Christian Science " methods is evident from 
the simple fact that, according to the declared 
principles of " Christian Science,'' the meta- 
physician cannot know but that the spiritual 
influence tending to originate, foster, and con- 
template that "delusion of mortal mind " known 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 27 

as sickness may be far too powerful for his own 
right understanding, together with all the spir- 
itual influence he can invoke and bring to bear 
on the case, to control or counteract in order to 
bring the patient to a realization of his real ( ?) 
condition of health, and immunity from all such 
evils as he is wrongly disposed to contemplate 
as real. Thus we find that this stupendous 
fallacy, self-styled " Christian Science," whilst 
ever reiterating the claim that '' all is good," 
constantly recognizes and tries to remedy a defi- 
nite form of evil ; namely, spirit in a condition 
of error, discord, disquiet, and perversity of 
will. 

I cannot more concisely epitomize the truth 
about this anti-Christian and lawless movement 
than to quote from a recent address made in 
Chicago by an earnest and sincere Methodist 
minister. He says : " A sj^stem which denies 
the personality of God, the personality of man, 
the reality of sin, the necessity of the Atone- 
ment, is another gospel. It calls forth the de- 
nunciation of the apostle : 'But though we, or 
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel 
unto you than that which we have preached 
unto you, let him be accursed.' It is from the 
devil, and it is the most subtle form in which 



28 THE TKUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

Christian faith can be attacked. It dethrones 
God, it perverts Scripture, it annihilates sin, 
it blots out the sun in the spiritual firmament, 
the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It 
deludes the soul with a muddy twaddle about 
good, peace, harmony, life, and health, wresting 
a portion of Scripture here and there to give 
Christian color and sanction. Tested by the 
canoyis of science^ it is not science, nor even the 
semblance of ity '' Ask me not," he adds, " to 
exchange the glorious gospel of the risen Lord 
for a human philosophy which revamps old 
errors, which dethrones God, enshrouds the 
Scriptures in thick clouds and darkness, and 
veils the face of the Crucified One ! Sin, sor- 
row, tribulation, are real. To shut one's eyes 
and calmly deny their existence is the sheerest 
folly, and mocks the deepest instincts of the 
human heart. The cure for the woes of life is 
Jesus Christ the Saviour of sinners." 

In running after the delusions of " Christian 
Science " and other similar conceits and " isms," 
men follow Satan instead of Christ. I won't 
pause here to discuss the existence and person- 
ality of Satan. It is certain from the Gospels 
that Jesus Christ believed in his reality, and 
that is reason enough iovmy belief. The devil's 



THE TIUTE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 29 

aim in fostering all these philosophies and cults 
of our time, which are based upon half-truths, 
seductive fallacies, and perversions of truth, is 
to demoralize and bewilder pure-minded and 
intellectual people whom his baser and more 
earthly wiles do not ensnare, to Aveaken their 
will and individuality, and thus lower them to 
a degree wherein they become a ready prey to 
those grosser forms of temptation which they 
have been hitherto proof against. The com- 
placency and self-conceit of those souls who are 
thus led to identify the Avill of self with that of 
God, believing themselves part of the Divine 
Spirit, and therefore perfect and impeccable be- 
cause God is perfect, and forgetting that the in- 
dividual can do nothing good without the grace 
of God, almost invariably precedes, presages, 
and indirectly causes their speedy fall from all 
that is good, and their utter ruin. God permits 
some, however, to recover themselves and return 
to a state of grace, after the worst of defeats in 
this spiritual combat with the Evil One. Such 
He takes up and uses to His greater glory after 
the devil has cast them away as useless to him, 
and supposedly the worn-out victims of his 
malice and delusions ; and if they will ever re- 
main mindful of their utter dependence upon 



30 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

God for grace and strength, Satan can never 
regain them into his power. God's overruling 
providence makes even the worst of past ex- 
periences useful to us ; and thus, if we but lean 
on God's direction, we need never trouble our- 
selves about anything that is past, always pro- 
vided that we have a sincere desire to amend 
and rectify anything we may have done, when 
and how it may please God to give us the op- 
portunity and direction, which sooner or later 
He will bring about in His wise plan for our 
best good. Meanwhile, we should follow the 
duty He gives us to do, but His inspiration will 
never prompt us to ignore absolutely and repu- 
diate any responsibility our past life may have 
incurred. And in this we behold the great 
practical difference between th« true Christian 
life and practice, and such false systems as the 
pseudo-science we have been considering. 

Again, if God is the only reality and entity, 
is it not inconsistent for a " Christian Scientist " 
to try to lead another person (or, rather, another 
part of the universal sea of mind or spirit) 
away from "the delusions of mortal mind " and 
into " the Science of Being " ? For there is no 
way whereby he can judge whether one or the 
other is the more clearly and truly in the un- 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 31 

derstanding of the Divine Being and Wis- 
dom ; in short, the tendency of the " Christian 
Science " craze, when followed out to its fullest 
logical results, is to dethrone both the will and 
the reason, annihilating individuality and free- 
dom of volition, and to lead finally to absolute 
lawlessness in all things, culminating in despair 
and insanity. 

In the worst state of bewilderment, agnosti- 
cism and uncertainty into which a poor, deluded 
soul can fall, there is always possible a sure, in- 
tuitive perception of truth for the sincere mind, 
terribly hard, perhaps, to recognize, and only to 
be at first attained by absolute self-forgetfulness 
and by inclining the soul's perceptions heaven- 
ward to know it, but always within reach of 
the repentant prayer of the worst sinner or the 
most deluded fanatic. It is the voice of God ; 
to which, however far from Him we may be spir- 
itually, we must incline our hearts to receive 
truth and wisdom. " Cast thy burden upon the 
Lord, and He shall sustain thee ; He shall never 
suffer the righteous to be moved." Thh is the 
true Christian Science. Yield a ready compli- 
ance with heavenly inspirations, become united 
with Jesus Christ in our hearts in love and will 
and understanding, and never forget that at 



32 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

best our finite selves are utteii}^ dependent on 
His grace and mercy to keep us in the way of 
truth, and free from those fetters of Satan, — 
pride, error, sin, misery, sickness, and death. 

As applicable to the transition from the j^hil- 
osophy of conceit, the religion of self-interest, 
and the theories of pseudo-science, to the true 
science of the Christ, I may add in conclusion 
the following words of Sir Thomas Browne : 
" Rest not in the high-strained paradoxes of old 
philosophy, supported by naked reason and the 
reward of mortal felicit}^ ; but labor in the 
ethics of faith, built upon heavenl}^ assistance 
and the happiness of both beings." To this 
faith there is ever ready for us a loving Guide, 
who is the true light of life, " and His name is 
called the Word of God." 

'' Jesus, my Saviour ! look on me. 
For I am weary and opprest ; 
I come to cast myself on Thee : 
Thou art my Rest. 

" Look down on me, for I am weak, 

I feel the toilsome journey's length ; 
Thine aid omnipotent I seek : 
Thou ai-t my Strength. 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 33 

I am bewildered on my way, 

Dark and tempestuous is the night; 

Oh send Thou forth some cheering ray : 
Thou art my Light. 



When Satan flings his flery darts, 
I look to Thee ; my terrors cease ; 

Thy cross a hiding-place imparts : 
Thou art my Peace. 



Standing alone on Jordan's brink, 
In that tremendous latest strife, 

Thou wilt not suffer me to sink : 
Thou art my Life. 



'' Thou wilt my every want supply, 
E'en to the end, wbate'er befall ; 
Through life, in death, eternally. 
Thou art my All." 



34 thp: true chkistian science 



PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 



FROm A LETTEK TO A MINISTER OF THE GOfSPEL. 



Many persons may disapprove and condemn 
your methods in works of human benevolence, 
and say, " You are vainly striving to do good 
amidst overwhelming and chaotic elements of 
evil. You have no apostolic ministry, — no mis- 
sion, no jurisdiction." We who truly aim to 
confess in our lives and work that Jesus is the 
Son of God, dwelling in love and freely losing 
our wills in His, care nothing for such an im- 
peachment. We are actuated by the highest 
and holiest cause, — even the direct influence of 
the Holy Spirit moving us, and bestowed by our 
Lord Himself. We have the vocation of use 
and efficiency, the obedience of opportunity and 
necessity. We have the mission of Love, the 
jurisdiction of Demand ! 

From thousands and thousands of starving, 
perishing, and sinful mortals — not only in 
distant lands, but about us, beside us, every- 
where^ — comes^the^despairing, earnest, hunger- 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 35 

ing cry, " Come and help us ! Raise us from our 
wretched state ! Show us the way to eternal 
life ! " We must forward to our work. We 
have no time to stop now, to ponder over logom- 
achies about the Trinity, to indulge in schol- 
astic disputations about ministerial intention as 
affecting sacramental validity, or to interchange 
clerical civilities, or quite their reverse, about 
" rectorial jurisdiction " or the respect or in- 
fringement of ^' parochial cures." Let the 
Church bow her head in silent sliame till this 
earnest demand is in some degree, more than 
now, satisfied, and until the great Church of 
Humanity can offer up to the Eternal Lord and 
Redeemer a vast harvest of souls brought to 
God through Jesus, and redeemed from super- 
stition, ignorance, suffering, sin, and death, and 
can declare to Him : " Lord, I have kept the 
trust Thou gavest. I did not bury Thy gifts in 
the earth of superstition and formality. Accept 
this offering of beloved souls redeemed from sin 
and death to righteousness and life eternal in 
Jesus, our Lord and our King, to whom be glory 
and dominion for ever and ever ! " 



36 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 



ECCE VERITAS 



While we believe that all life is from God, 
many cannot comprehend that God is the life 
of all. They will say that, though all life is 
from God, yet each individual has a free will. 
How, then, can his own efforts, directed by that 
personal choice, have anything to do with his 
salvation ? We reply, — For that very reason, 
viz., because he enjoys freedom of will. All 
power is of God, and a man is saved in part by 
his own efforts only when he comes to know 
that all strength is from God and is yet part of 
God, and that he, as an incarnation of Divine 
Life, is a Son of God, and to appreciate and 
strive to maintain that dignity. This is the 
putting off the natural man and putting on that 
character which shall be immortal. It is the 
return of the prodigal to his heritage. 

Those Christians who fail to accept the doc- 
trine of a Trinity of three Divine Persons^ as 
well as Essentials^ do not thereby necessarily fail 
to believe in and appreciate the divinity of the 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Knowing the 



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 37 

Divine Life manifested in perfection and eter- 
nally in Christ does not prevent them from rec- 
ognizing the truth that all life is from the Lord, 
in Whom is no evil, and that the relatively evil 
and depraved man (so to express it) neither 
lowers the character of the Divine Life in him 
whereby he lives and is, nor alters its power and 
its law, but only punishes his mortal self for his 
transgressions of that law in the exercise of his 
own free will. God is incarnate in the best and 
the worst alike. The salvation of men depends 
upon their dying to self and living to God alone, 
and thus becoming like the Divine Master, Who 
said, — 

" I and my Father are one." 

Love destroys self, and brings us into the 
realization of the Divine Life alone. 

" No man hath seen God at any time. If we 
love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His 
love is perfected in us." 

In the acceptance and following of this rule, 
we neither deny nor detract from the divinity 
and majesty of Jesus, Who said, — 

'' And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will 
draw all men unto Me." 

We aim thus to lift up and exalt Him by our 



38 THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

faith and love, and thereby to lift up also our 
hearts to Him, to be His and His alone. 

" Thou seemest human and divine, 

The highest, holiest manhood. Thou ; 
Our wills are ours, we know not how ; 
Our wills are ours, to make them Thine." 

" Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the 
Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in 
God." 

" And we have known and believed the love 
that God hath to us. God is love, and he that 
dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in 
him." 



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